Xantia '98 Cutch Cable snapped?

Malcolm · Unread post by **Malcolm** » 17 Feb 2007, 19:21

Clutch has just gone. It's too dark to really investigate etc. Looking under dash board, I can see where inner cable should come up through bulkhead but nothing. (That looks like a pig of a place to guide new cable to). Looking at the 'release lever' end, the cable is hanging slack from release lever. Attempting to pull inner cable from this end is feels to be against a spring resistance and is pulled back in so far when released.

Does this sound like it is just clutch cable gone? I was driving it - to Manchester - Westroen earlier in week and clutch felt a little siff to operate / slow to return.

If just clutch cable are there any tips on refitting. I'm just dashing out and got a full day's training tomorrow, so can pick one up on way back in tomorrow to fit tomorrow night. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Unread post by **lolingram** » 17 Feb 2007, 19:46

Good luck!

I'm just dashing out and got a full day's training tomorrow, so can pick one up on way back in tomorrow to fit tomorrow night.

Evodad · Unread post by **Evodad** » 18 Feb 2007, 07:48

I reckon it might be the dreaded cable/pedal clip broken.

If so, there's lots of recent posts about this (mine broke about a month ago).

Unread post by **lolingram** » 18 Feb 2007, 08:07

Does anyone know if this dreadful system continues on the MK2 Xantia with auto adjustment?

I reckon it might be the dreaded cable/pedal clip broken.

If so, there's lots of recent posts about this (mine broke about a month ago).

Malcolm · Unread post by **Malcolm** » 18 Feb 2007, 08:41

Thanks for that info Evodad. I'm out all day so have to get a cable on way back this afternoon. Alternate vehicle of course.

Does the cable come with this 'dreaded cable/pedal clip' or is this a main dealer item?

Thanks again.

rory_perrett · Unread post by **rory_perrett** » 18 Feb 2007, 12:10

Malcolm

If you need a clutch clip I have a spare and I'm only 5 miles from you.

Rory

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 18 Feb 2007, 15:06

you almost certainly do not need the cable,as 99.9% of the time its just the spring steel clip in the nylon block attached to the pedel which has given up,was you clutch pedel very heavy in opperation if so you will probably find the clutch is near the end of its life,which in turn puts to much load on the clip,have fun but please refrain from cutting,bending and genraly butchering whilst doing this job,like some on this forum repot haveing to resort to,as all it realy needs is lots of percy whatsit and the pedel pivot bolt WILL come out
regards malcolm

Malcolm · Unread post by **Malcolm** » 18 Feb 2007, 18:52

Hi guys, Rory you're over in Garforth I seem to remember - I got a set of roof bars from ebay that you spotted and recommended to me. I'll get in touch.

I bought a cable today on my way back in, was asked whether auto or manual adjustment. I said manual but looking at car now home it doesn't have adjustment and locking nuts so assume that's auto adjustment. It'll swap OK. How's auto adjust work?

Malcolm. Forgive my ignorance but how does stiff operation indicate near to end of it's life? From my previous experience 'near end of life' is usually a slipping clutch, stiff operation has been caused by an inner not running smoothly in outer cable. We got Xantia with 40k and use clutch frugally - my last Pug had >176k when I let her go and no clutch issues at all. What goes in Xantia clutch to make it heavy. My last clutch job was late 70's on a Marina which being nontransverse was relatively easy.

I've just this week changed spheres rear HCU and fluid so spent a bit of cash on her - just my luck.

jeremy · Unread post by **jeremy** » 18 Feb 2007, 19:16

The clutch pressure is a diaphragm spring - and due to its design it actually exerts more pressure on th late as it wears. In extreme cases the can actually be felt to go over centre as the pedal is pressed to the floor.

So as the clutch plate wears the force necessary to operate the clutch increases. The clutch will usually start to slip when the rivets or some part of the metal structure start to prevent full engagement.
Cables can get stiff with age and wear, a problem that can affect other parts of the release mechanism.

A worn cable often feels sticky to operate and tends to need a good push to get the clutch to operate. This is sometimes more noticeable on release when the effect is to make it difficult to engage the clutch smoothly.

Malcolm · Unread post by **Malcolm** » 18 Feb 2007, 19:33

So does 107k not sound a bit early for a Xantia clutch. As I said earlier it had only done 40k when I bought it late '02 and we are realatively light on clutch use - not holding it on clutch etc. So unless original owner gave it some hammer 107k isn't a long life.

nick · Unread post by **nick** » 18 Feb 2007, 20:11

My '97 Xantia TD had a new clutch at only 55k, then another at 120k. That was with mainly motorway driving too!

Malcolm · Unread post by **Malcolm** » 18 Feb 2007, 20:17

I've been reading other posts on this subject and one from RichardW and others says about pushing engine end of cable in to enable inner to be connected to clip. As mine doesn't have adjustment on end of cable I assume it's auto adjust. Is this same principle?